Cost Effectiveness and Influence of Storage Bag Type on the Quality of Sweet Potato Vines

Abstract

Sweet potatoes present an opportunity for improving food security and income generation in South Africa. The yield of sweet potatoes is highly dependent on the quality of sweet vines used in production. This study aimed at identifying the most cost effective and best storage bag type, between polyethylene and hessian bags, to prolong vine storage. Three bag treatments namely polyethylene bag without holes, polyethylene bag with 12 holes and dry hessian with vines from sweet potato cultivar “Bophelo” were stored for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days at ambient temperature during summer. The costs effectiveness of using different types of bags when transporting and storing vines was calculated using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The results of the study showed that hessian bags offer the best option to prolong storage (12 days) as compared to polyethylene bags (6 days), however hessian bags are more expensive (R49.10/1 day quality) ($4.08 as at 24/01/2018). Polyethylene bags can be used if the farmer is not willing to pay the additional cost for an addition day of quality. Holes need to be made in polyethylene bags in order to allow air circulation.